Comprehensive insights into recent innovations:Magnesium-inclusive high-entropy alloys

This review focuses on thermodynamic and physical parameters,synthesis methods,and reported phases of Magnesium(Mg)containing high-entropy alloys(HEAs).Statistical data of publications concerning Mg-containing HEAs were collected and analyzed.Data on the chemical elements included in Mg-containing HEAs,their theoretical end experimental densities,thermodynamic parameters,physical parameters,fabricated techniques and reported phases were also collected and discussed.On the basis of this information,a new classification for HEAs was proposed.It is also shown that the existing thermodynamic parameters cannot accurately predict the formation of a single phase solid solution for Mg-containing HEAs.The physical parameters of Mg-containing HEAs are within a wide range,and most of the synthesized Mg-containing HEAs have a complex multiphase structure.

Tuning sol size to optimize organosilica membranes for gas separation

A series of organosilica sols are prepared by the polymeric sol–gel method using 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane(BTESE)as the precursor.Particle size distributions of the BTESE-derived sols are systematically investigated by carefully adjusting the synthesis parameters(i.e.,water ratios,acid ratios and solvent ratios)in the sol process.In certain conditions,increasing the water ratio or the acid ratio tends to cause larger sol sizes and bimodal particle size distributions.However,higher solvent ratios lead to smaller sol sizes and unimodal particle size distributions.The organosilica membranes prepared from the optimized sols show excellent H_2 permeances(up to 4.2×10^(-7)mol·m^(-2)·s^(-1)·Pa^(-1))and gas permselectitivies(H_2/CO_2 is 9.5,H_2/N_2 is 50 and H_2/CH_4 is 68).This study offers significant insights into the relationship between the sol synthesis parameters,sol sizes and membrane performance.

MOF-Like 3D Graphene-Based Catalytic Membrane Fabricated by One-Step Laser Scribing for Robust Water Purification and Green Energy Production

Increasing both clean water and green energy demands for survival and development are the grand challenges of our age.Here,we successfully fabricate a novel multifunctional 3D graphene-based catalytic membrane(3D-GCM)with active metal nanoparticles(AMNs)loading for simultaneously obtaining the water purification and clean energy generation,via a“green”one-step laser scribing technology.The as-prepared 3D-GCM shows high porosity and uniform distribution with AMNs,which exhibits high permeated fluxes(over 100 L m^(−2) h^(−1))and versatile super-adsorption capacities for the removal of tricky organic pollutants from wastewater under ultra-low pressure-driving(0.1 bar).After adsorption saturating,the AMNs in 3D-GCM actuates the advanced oxidization process to self-clean the fouled membrane via the catalysis,and restores the adsorption capacity well for the next time membrane separation.Most importantly,the 3D-GCM with the welding of laser scribing overcomes the lateral shear force damaging during the long-term separation.Moreover,the 3D-GCM could emit plentiful of hot electrons from AMNs under light irradiation,realizing the membrane catalytic hydrolysis reactions for hydrogen energy generation.This“green”precision manufacturing with laser scribing technology provides a feasible technology to fabricate high-efficient and robust 3D-GCM microreactor in the tricky wastewater purification and sustainable clean energy production as well.

Antibiotic enhanced dopamine polymerization for engineering antifouling and antimicrobial membranes

In this work,we adopt a new tobramycin(TOB)-dopamine coating system to endow thin film composite membranes with excellent antifouling and antimicrobial properties.Combining the hydrophilic and antibiofouling properties of both TOB and polydopamine,the TOB-dopamine modified membrane exhibits improved antifouling and antimicrobial properties compared with the conventional dopamine modified and unmodified membranes.The TOB-dopamine system has two advantages over the conventional modification with dopamine and tris buffer solution.First,TOB-dopamine modification is more efficient than the conventional dopamine modification due to the accelerating effect of TOB on dopamine polymerization.Second,the TOB-dopamine modified membranes exhibit better hydrophilicity,and enhanced antifouling and antimicrobial properties than the conventional dopamine modified membrane.Beyond engineering membranes,the proposed TOB-dopamine system can also be extended for wider surface hydrophilic and antimicrobial modifications.

Omniphobic membranes for distillation:Opportunities and challenges

As an emerging thermal-driven membrane technology,membrane distillation(MD)has attracted immense attention for desalination and water purification.The membranes for MD generally have hydrophobic or superhydrophobic properties to enable vapor permeation without liquid passage(e.g.,wetting).However,conventional MD membranes cannot undergo long term stable operations due to gradual wetting in practical applications where the feed solution often contains multiple low-surface tension contaminants(e.g.,oil).Recently,omniphobic membranes repelling all sorts of liquids and typically having ultralow surface energy and re-entrant structures have been developed for robust MD to mitigate wetting and fouling.In this paper,we aim to provide a comprehensive review of recent progress on omniphobic membranes.Fundamentals,desirable properties,advantages and applications of omniphobic membranes are discussed.We also summarize the research efforts and methods to engineer omniphobic membranes.Finally,the challenges and future research directions on omniphobic membranes are discussed.